Valve-actuating mechanism for the tanks of water-closet apparatus



Aug. 17 1926.

W. U. GRIFFITHS VALVE ACTUA'IING MECHANISM FOR THE.TANKS OF WATER CLOSET APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18

IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

a" a www Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

[UNITED STATES WILLIAM u. GRIFFITHS, or LLANWELLYN, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE-ACTUATING IVIECI-IANISM FOR THE TANKS OF WATER-CLOSET A?PAR A.TUSM

Application filed January 18, 1922. Seria1 No. 530,066.

The object of.my invention is to provide an improved and novel construction of valve actuating mechanism which is particularly adapted for use in the case of water closet apparatus in which the flush tank is located a relatively reat distance above the closet hopper,-a distance say of several feet.

My invention comprehends the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the bottom portion of a tank and of certain of the flushing mechanism associated therewith, certain other parts of the mechanism being shown in elevation, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view with certain of the parts being shown in different positions from that in which they are shown in Fig. 1.

Before continuing with the details of the description of the drawings, it may be well to call attention to the fact that a portion of the bottom only of the flush tank is shown, the height of the water therein being indicated by dash lines near the upper portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a portion of the bottom of the flush tank of a water closet apparatus having an opening 2 therein in which is secured a section of pipe 3, having a lateral branch 4, the upper open end 5 of which is adapted to be closed by a valve 6 having a short arm 7 which is pivoted to a lug 8 which projects laterally from the upper end. of'the section of pipe 3. One end of an inverted U-shaped pipe 10 is secured to the upper end of the short section of pipe 3, as shown in the drawing. By means of the construction as illustrated, the water is siphoned from the tank in well known manner.

At its forward or free swinging edge, the valve 6 is provided with an upwardly extending rod or post 12, the upper end of which is bent or curved laterally, as indicated at 13. For the purpose of actuating the valve 6, I have provided a vertically extending rod 15 which is adapted to be reciprocated in the surrounding tubular post 16 vwhich is supported upon the bottom 1 of the tank. At its upper end the rod 15 is provided with a link 17 which is connected to the outer end of a substantially horizontal arm of a bell crank lever 18, which lever is pivoted upon a pivot 19 secured upon the upper inner end of a bracket 20 secured to the upper end of the tubular post 16. To the lower end of the vertically depending arm of the bell crank lever 18 a tripping rod or bar 22 is pivoted, as indicated at 23. The lower end of the tripp ng rod or bar 22 isadapted to contact with the upper end of the upwardly extendmg post 12 upon the valve 6. The rod 15, bell crank lever 18, tripping rod or bar 22, valve 6 and upwardly extending post 12 are shown in their normal positions in Fig. 1, with the valve 6 closed. Upon elevation of the rod 15, the bell crank lever 18 and the tripping rod or bar are moved to the positions indicated in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Such movement may be effected in any suitable manner, as by means of an arm-extending 'rearwardly from the seat of a water closet bowl, the said arm upon the depression of the seat upon the bowl striking against the lower side of a weight 25 upon the lower end of said rod and raising the latter. Upon elevation of the said seat, the weight 25 causes downward movement of the rod 15, so as to re-.

turn the bell crank lever 18 and the tripping rod or bar 22 to their normal positions, as indicated in Fig. 1 and as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. In returning to normal position, the lower end of the tripping bar or rod 22 contacts with the inner concave side of the upper end portion of the upwardly extending post 12 and moves the same together with the valve 6 to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. In going from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in full lines in Fig. 2, 'the lower end of the tripping rod or bar 22 slides over the upper end of the upwardly extending post 12 without affecting the latter, such movement of the tripping bar or rod 22 being possible because of the pivotal connection of the said tripping rod or bar with the lower end of the depending arm of the bell crank lever 18.

When the valve 6 is opened, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the water enters the open end of the branch pipe 4 and initiates siphonic action so that fiuence of gravity, the water continues to after the said valve closes under the inflow through the bent tube 10 and through the section of pipe 3 which constitutes a continuation of one le 01" the said tube 10.

The pipe or tube connecting the section 3 with the water. closet bowl is not shown in the drawing, because the showing of such-pipe or tube is-notessential to a proper and clear explanation of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In valve actuating mechanism for the tanks or water closet apparatus, the combination of a valve, means for pivotally supportii'i'g the said valve, a post having rigid connection with and extending upwardly rrom the said'valve, and a pivoted swinging actuating bar which is adapted when movedin one direction to slide over the upper end 01' the said post without actuating thesame and when moved in the opposite direction to cause swinging movement of the said post and the said valve, substantially as described. v

2. In a valve actuating mechanism vfor the tankof a water closet apparatus, the combination ot'a valve for opening and closing a port leading from said tank, means for pivotally supporting the said valve, a post havingurigid connection with and projecting upwardly from said valve, said post having its upper end portion bent laterally, and tripping mechanism provided with a pivoted tripping bar which is adapted, when moved in one direction, to contact with the inner side of said bent portion to open the said valve.

3. In a valve actuating mechanism for the tank of a water closet apparatus, the combination of a valve for opening and closing a port leading from said tank, means for pivotally supporting said valve, a post having rigid connection with' and projecting upwardly from said valve, said postterminating in a concavo-convex upper end portion, and a tripping mechanism for actuating the said valve, the said'tripping mechanism comprising a lever pivoted inter mediate its ends and having an actuating bar pivotally connected with one end thereof which bar when moved in one direction contacts with the convex side of the said concavo-convex 3 portion and slides thereover, and when moved in the opposite: direction contacts with the concave side thereot'to cause movementth'ereof to open the said valve.

In testimony that Iclaiin the'foregoing my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this12th day of'January, A. D. 1922.

WILLIAM U. GR'I FZTHS. I 

